Ripon MP Louise Staley said Ararat residents were under siege from a surging crime wave.

“Total crime is up in Ararat and residents are being traumatised,” she said.

“We need to boost police resources and crack down hard on offenders.”

Acting Inspector Paul Bertoncello said police would carefully examine the factors contributing to rises in particular crimes and in specific areas.

“We are aware of the rise of certain crimes in some areas of the police service area and a rise in non-family violence assaults in others,” he said.

Paul Bertoncello.

“We continuously review our approach to crime during the year and we’re working hard to ensure community safety through the prevention of offences.”

But Acting Inspector Bertoncello said a significant 86 per cent increase in drug crime detection was a positive to take away from Ararat’s latest crime figures.

“Illicit drugs are a scourge on local communities and drive many other crime themes including family violence, assaults, and burglaries – not to mention the danger caused when combined with driving,” he said.

“Drug crime only appears in our statistics when we are out there looking for it, so it is a measure of how well our members are doing their job.”